Apparatus for supervising starting of vehicle

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for supervising starting of a vehicle, wherein the frequency of a flickering luminous indicator has to be adjusted manually to a predetermined value for allowing starting the vehicle, the initial conditions of the apparatus being automatically changed after each use so that said manual adjustment has always to be done under variable conditions.

United States Patent Inventors Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee Priority APPARATUS FOR SUPERVISING STARTING OF VEHICLE 15 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

u.s.v1 317/146, 310/78 1m.c1 ..11o1h 41/22 [50] Fieldof Search 317/134, 146, 147; 307/129, 134, 140; 370/63,64

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,355,631 1 1/1967 Christiansen 317/134 Primary Examiner-J. D. Miller Assistant Examiner-Harry E. Moose, Jr. Attorney-imirie and Smiley ABSTRACT: An apparatus for supervising starting of a vehicle, wherein the frequency of a flickering luminous indicator has to be adjusted manually to a predetennined value for allowing starting the vehicle, the initial conditions of the apparatus being automatically changed after each use so that said manual adjustment has always to be done under variable conditions.

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FIGZ.

INVENTORS KA R L A DLE R esoaees ouc'o MM UN M1;

ATTORNEYS APPARATUS FOR SUPERVISINC STARTING OF VEHICLE This invention relates to an apparatus for supervising starting of a vehicle, comprising a luminous indicator adapted to flicker at a manually adjustable frequency and a starting circuit operable upon adjustment of a predetermined nominal frequency.

Such an apparatus is based on the experience that the flicker fusion threshold frequency, that is the highest frequency at which a flickering illumination is still seen as a continuous light, depends on the actual vigilance of the observer and is lowered for instance by alcohol, illness and general fatigue. If a driver of a vehicle is no longer able to determine and adjust m nominal frequency individually associated to him, he is also unable to fulfill the conditions for proper handling of the said starting circuit, that is, it is impossible for him to start the vehicle.

The value of such a supervising apparatus is limited if exactly the same manipulation is required for every adjustment thereof, because this manipulation may be exercised or may be facilitated by marks on the actuating means whereby the apparatus may fully lose its effect.

It is an object of this invention to avoid these drawbacks. In an apparatus of the above general design, this invention comprises means operable at the end of each adjusting operation for automatically shifting the frequency or of adjusting means for the frequency respectively, the initial condition from which manual adjustment of the nominal frequency has to be effected being different for each adjustment. In this case it is necessary to effect every adjustment under variable conditions, for instance by turning a potentiometer by various amounts and/or from various initial positions so that it is im- 'possibleto exercise or even to note down marks assisting the adjusting manipulation.

This invention will now be described in detailfor two embodiments schematically illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 has a luminous indicator 1 which may be energized by a generator 2 at a frequency adjustable within a range of say 20 to 80 cycles. The frequency may be adjusted by means of a potentiometer 3 having a shaft 31 passing through the potentiometer casing. The casing of this potentiometer is pivotably mounted by means of a hub 4 and with a predetermined friction on a stationary support 5. The one end and the tapping of the potentiometer are connected each through a slip ring 6 to the generator 2. The shaft 31 of potentiometer 3 has a hub 7 at one end thereof, a toothed wheel 8 being loosely supported on, this hub. .A star spring 9 connected to the hub 7 rests against the toothed wheel 8 and forms a friction clutch with the same, the torque of this friction clutch being sufiicient for rotating the potentiometer shaft 31 in the potentiometer casing 3 as well as for rotating the potentiometer casing in its support 5. The toothed wheel 8 may be driven by an electric motor 11 through a wonn 10. A sleeve 12 with an actuating knob 13 is mounted on the potentiometer shaft 31 and may be shifted in axial direction thereon. A pressure spring inserted into the sleeve 12 tends to shift and to maintain the latter in its outer end position illustrated in FIG. 1, this end position being determined by abutment of a pin of sleeve 12 against the one end of a longitudinal groove in the potentiometer shaft. The potentiometer shaft and sleeve 12 respectively pass through an opening in a wall 14 of a casing or instrument board so that the parts of the apparatus except for the knob 13 and the indicator 1 are invisible.

The sleeve 12 carries an arm 15 with a pin 16. This arm 15 is located in front of an annular metal plate 17 having an opening 18 within reach of the path of displacement of pin 16, the

pin 16 and opening 18 being so designed that pin 16 may enter into the opening 18 with ample clearance, particularly in circumferential direction. Another annular metal plate 19 is mounted parallel to plate 17 in a common support 20 of insulating material. By means of arms 40 the support 20 with plates 17 and 19 is rotated in synchronism with the potentiometer casing, that is, the angular position of plates 17 and 19 always corresponds to that of the potentiometer casing.

Plates 17 and 19 are connected to relay windings 21 and 22 respectively. Relay 21 has a self-holding contact 23 and a rest contact 24 in the circuit of relay 22. Relay 22 has a self-holding contact 25 and a making contact 26 connected into the circuit of a start switch 27, for instance the ignition lock switch of a motor car.

The generator 2 is energized through a contact 28 of a selector switch which may be thrown into two outer operating positions and a central off position. A second contact 29 of this selector switch serves for connection of generator 2 to the potentiometer 3 in its position shown in the drawing and to a calibrating resistor 30 in the other operating position.

P16. 1 illustrates the apparatus in its usual operating position ready for supervising starting of the vehicle. The casing of potentiometer 3 is in any desired angular position and the potentiometer shaft with knob 13 is in its end position relatively to the potentiometer casing, for which position the generator produces its highest frequency. The driver who wants to start his vehicle now turns on knob 13 in a prescribed direction corresponding to decreasing frequency. In this case the potentiometer shaft turns in the potentiometer casing without turning the casing therewith so that the potentiometer is adjusted and the frequency decreases. As soon as the driver observes flickering of the luminous indicator he presses the knob 13 with the sleeve 12 inwardly, that is, to the left in H6. 1. If correct adjustment has really been made, the pin 16 passes through the opening 18 without touching the plate 17 and only contacts plate 19. Hereby a circuit is closed, relay 22 is energized and holds itself through its self-holding contact. Contact 26 is also closed andprepares the ignition circuit which may now be completed by closing the ignition lock switch 27 The driver may new release the knob 13 and switch off the apparatus.

if the vigilance of the driver is substantially reduced, he will not be able to adjust the prescribed condition because he will adjust a frequency below the nominal value until he can observe flickering. When he presses the knob 13 inwardly the pin 16 touches the plate 17 whereby relay 21 is energized. it holds itself through its contact 23 and breaks the energizing circuit of relay 22. Relay 21 thus acts as a locking relay which is energized whenever .the prescribed nominal frequency is not properly adjusted. This locking relay is deenergized after a suitable delay time, for instance 15 minutes so that another attempt for starting the vehicle may be made. Relay 22 is deenergized in a manner not illustrated in detail whenever the ignition circuit is opened.

During one or more phases of the supervising operation the motor 1 1 is energized for a short time. As an example this may be effected whenever switch 27 is closed, by a suitable time relay energized thereby. The operating period of the motor 11 is so selected that it is sufficient in any case for resetting the potentiometer shaft in the potentiometer easing into the end position corresponding to the highest frequency. After abutment of the potentiometer shaft in this end position against a stop of the potentiometer casing, this casing is now turned together with the shaft, the torque of the friction clutch 8,9 exceeding the friction of the potentiometer casing in its support 5. According to the operating time of motor 11, which may be different for each operating period, the potentiometer casing and consequently the knob 13 is turned into any indeterminate position which cannot be observed from outside and cannot be marked. Therefore, the knob 13 has to be turned for every vigilance test prior to starting the vehicle from any indeterminate position so that cheating is practically impossible.

By throwing switch 29 to the resistor 30 it may be ascertained at any time whether the nominal frequency produced when resistor 30 is connected into the circuit is still seen as being flickering and whether consequently the driver still has the necessary vigilance. The possibility to adjust the nominal frequency for a short time whenever desired makes it possible to check during the above operation of the supervising apparatus, whether the adjusted nominal frequency is really correct. Since comparison in this manner is only possible with sufficient vigilance it does not facilitate adjustment for incapable drivers.

Fig. 2 shows another embodiment, wherein corresponding parts have the same designation as inFlG. l. The potentiometer 3 is fixed to a stationary support 5'. It has a shaft 31 passing through the casing, carrying at its one end a disc 32 with spring pawl 33. This spring pawl engages a ratchet disc 34 fixed on the shaft 35 of a second potentiometer 36. The casing of potentiometer is fixed on a stationary support of the apparatus and is electrically contacted in series with potentiome-' ter 3. The resistance value of potentiometer 36 is substantially lower than that of potentiometer 3, the adjustable ranges of resistance values being so designed that for any position of the potentiometer 36 the potentiometer 3 allows adjustment of the said frequency range, for instance from 20 to 80 cycles. A resetting spring 37 acts on the shaft 31 of potentiometer 3 and tends to turn and to maintain this shaft in its end position corresponding to the highest frequency. The circuit including elements 21 to 27 is used but not illustrated in FIG. 2.

Operation of this apparatus basically corresponds to that described above for the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. For testing his own vigilance the driver has to turn on the knob 13 until the nominal frequency is reached. Thereafter the apparatus may be prepared for starting by pressing the knob inwardly. When knob 13 is released, spring 37 resets the potentiometer 3 into its end position. Either during this resetting rotation, but preferably during adjustment the potentiometer 36 is turned together with potentiometer 3 through spring pawl 33 and ratchet disc 34, whereby the resistance value of potentiometer 36 is changed Since it is never determined by which amount this resistance value changes from one test to the next and whether the value increases or decreases, variable rotating angles of the knob 13 and potentiometer 3 respectively will be required during each test for adjusting the required nominal frequency. In this way adjustment is rendered more difficult and cheating is practically impossible. As schematically in dicated by a dash-dotted line, the support 20 has to be adjusted in accordance with the adjustment of potentiometer 36, because the rotating movement of arm and pin 16 for adjustment of the nominal frequency depends on the adjustment of potentiometer 36. Any suitable mechanism may be provided for adjusting support in this manner.

Instead of the series connection of a potentiometer 36 of relatively low resistance, a potentiometer of high resistance may be connected in parallel with potentiometer 3. For rendering operation of the apparatus even more difi'icult the features of bothapparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be used in combination so that each adjustment not only requires adjustment from different initial positions but also by various angles. It is further possible to provide for immediate energizing of the locking relay 21 upon any decrease of the frequency below the nominal frequency, for instance by providing an axial projection on plate 17 against which the pin 16 will abut upon adjustment below nominal frequency.

Of course FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic illustrations, that is, the mechanical parts may be disposed in another way. In order to avoid the slip rings 6 in the apparatus according to FIG. 1 and to simplify this construction in other details, the casing of potentiometer 3 may be moved to and fro within a limited angular range of say 180 by motor 11 by means of a cam drive or crank drive, whereby the potentiometer would always come to rest in any indeterminate position.

Instead of the mechanical supervising means comprising arm 15, pin 16 and plates 17 and 19 which must be adjusted in accordance with the adjustment of a potentiometer, an electronic supervising circuit may be used in any case. As an example, a resonance circuit may be used through which a condenser is only charged when the nominal frequency remains adjusted for a sufficiently long period of time, for instance 15 seconds. When sufficient charge is reached, the circuit allowing starting of the vehicle may be switched on automatically. For additionally improving supervision manual closure of the start circuit within a minimum time delay may also be prescribed in this case, the circuit changing over to a blocking condition.

Further, it is feasible to provide a simple variable transmission, for instance a friction transmission between the adjusting knob 13 and the potentiometer, the transmission ratio of which is changed after or during each adjusting operation. In this case adjusting movements of various magnitude would be necessary for each adjustment whereby adjustment might be rendered more difficult by providing such transmission ratio that a number of revolutions of the knob are required for adjustment of the nominal frequency.

Another possibility for rendering adjustment more difficult would be to provide for indirect switch control of a reversible adjusting motor instead of direct manual adjustment. As an example, the motor shown in FIG. I may be reversible by switch control for fine adjustment of the potentiometer 3. In this case the operating voltage for the motor may be changed by automatic means so that the time required for proper adjustment is different for each adjustment. As described in connection with FIG. 1 the potentiometer would automatically be reset into its one end position at the end of each supervising or test cycle. While it was assumed in the foregoing that the nominal frequency is adjusted by means of a continuously adjustable potentiometer, a rotatable selector switch may also be provided adapted to be brought into a number of operating positions of which one corresponds to nominal frequency. In this case, displacement of the operating means should be pro vided in order that various numbers of steps are required during each test for shifting the switch into the proper position for which nominal frequency is adjusted.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for supervising starting of a vehicle, comprising a luminous indicator adapted to flicker at a manually adjustable frequency and a starting circuit operable upon adjustment of a predetermined nominal frequency, means operable at the end of each adjusting operation for automatically shifting the frequency or of the adjusting means for the frequency respectively, the initial condition from which manual adjustment of the nominal frequency has to be effected being different for each adjustment.

2. An apparatus according toclaim 1, comprising an adjusting potentiometer having a casing and a shaft, the casing of the tiometer has slip rings through which it is connected to a generator for the flicker frequency.

6. An apparatus according to claim 2 comprising an oscillating drive, for instance a crank drive acting onto the potentiometer casing.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a releasing device with two elements adapted to be brought to coincidence, one of these elements being adjustable by hand and the other being adjustable in accordance with adjustment of the frequency.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, comprising'a pin adapted to be inserted into a bore.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said pin is a contact pin and said bore is provided in a contact plate connected to a locking circuit, another contact being located within reach of said bore and adapted to be touched by said contact pin projecting through said bore, said other contact being connected to an operating circuit.

10. An apparatus according to claim I, having an adjusting potentiometer and an auxiliary potentiometer connected in series or parallel with the adjusting potentiometer, said aux- 13. An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an electronic supervising circuit, for instance a resonance circuit and a charging circuit connected to the output of said supervising circuit.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an adjusting member, for instance a potentiometer and an actuating member associated therewith, a variable transmission adjustable by said means for automatically shifting adjusting means for the frequency being disposed between said adjusting member and actuating member thereof.

15. An apparatus according to claim I, comprising an adjusting member, for instance a potentiometer, operable by means of a motor by remote control. 

1. An apparatus for supervising starting of a vehicle, comprising a luminous indicator adapted to flicker at a manually adjustable frequency and a starting circuit operable upon adjustment of a predetermined nominal frequency, means operable at the end of each adjusting operation for automatically shifting the frequency or of the adjusting means for the frequency respectively, the initial condition from wHich manual adjustment of the nominal frequency has to be effected being different for each adjustment.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an adjusting potentiometer having a casing and a shaft, the casing of the potentiometer being rotatably mounted, and a shifting drive for rotating the potentiometer casing.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 2, comprising an actuating knob on said potentiometer shaft and a resetting mechanism acting onto the potentiometer shaft through a sliding clutch.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the torque transmitted through said sliding clutch exceeds the friction of said potentiometer casing in its mounting such that the potentiometer casing may be rotated through said sliding clutch and potentiometer shaft.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said potentiometer has slip rings through which it is connected to a generator for the flicker frequency.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 2 comprising an oscillating drive, for instance a crank drive acting onto the potentiometer casing.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a releasing device with two elements adapted to be brought to coincidence, one of these elements being adjustable by hand and the other being adjustable in accordance with adjustment of the frequency.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 7, comprising a pin adapted to be inserted into a bore.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said pin is a contact pin and said bore is provided in a contact plate connected to a locking circuit, another contact being located within reach of said bore and adapted to be touched by said contact pin projecting through said bore, said other contact being connected to an operating circuit.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 1, having an adjusting potentiometer and an auxiliary potentiometer connected in series or parallel with the adjusting potentiometer, said auxiliary potentiometer being adjustable by said means for automatically shifting the frequency.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said auxiliary potentiometer is displaceable from said adjusting potentiometer through a step drive or a crank drive.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 10 comprising a resetting spring attached to the shaft of the adjusting potentiometer.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an electronic supervising circuit, for instance a resonance circuit and a charging circuit connected to the output of said supervising circuit.
 14. An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an adjusting member, for instance a potentiometer and an actuating member associated therewith, a variable transmission adjustable by said means for automatically shifting adjusting means for the frequency being disposed between said adjusting member and actuating member thereof.
 15. An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an adjusting member, for instance a potentiometer, operable by means of a motor by remote control. 